Associate Fellow, IDSA, presently on deputation as Visiting Professor to ICCR chair of Indian Studies at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Dr Anand Kumar’s article on China’s political, economic and military interests in the Maldives, titled ‘Maldives is just another front of China’s expansive policy’ was published in ‘The Print’ on February 21, 2018.

The article explains how China is using non-interventionist methods to step in wherever it wants.

Senior Research Associate, IDSA, Ms Ruchita Beri delivered a lecture on ‘Emergence of Africa and India’s Robust Partnership’ at RIS, New Delhi, for the Capacity Building Programme on ‘International Economic Issues and Development Policy (IEIDP)’ under the ITEC/SCAAP Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, on February 20, 2018.

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr Meena Singh Roy’s article on West Asia, titled ‘India and West Asia a Realistic Approach of Engagement’ was published in the January 2018 issue of ‘The Diplomatist’.

The article deals with the difficult choices before India, given the existing regional complexities and rising expectations from West Asia. It analyses how New Delhi has been able to manage closer relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries, while maintaining its ties with Iran.

Associate Fellow, IDSA, presently on deputation as Visiting Professor to ICCR chair of Indian Studies at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Dr Anand Kumar’s article on the Maldivian political crisis, titled ‘Only Maldivians can topple Yameen’s dictatorship’ was published in National Herald on February 20, 2018.

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr Jagannath Panda’s review of Frederic Grare’s book ‘India Turns East’, titled ‘India’s chance to build presence in the East through ASEAN and Act East’, was published in ‘The Print’ on February 18, 2018.

The book argues that ‘Act East’ has become India’s favorite instrument to mitigate its China concerns and prevent the emergence of a China-led regional order.

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr Jagannath Panda’s Op-ed piece on the Maldives crisis tiled ‘Male and the Elephant-dragon Power struggle’ was published in The Asian Age on February 18, 2018. The article analyses how the ongoing Maldivian crisis is emerging as a geopolitical tussle between China and India to influence the island country’ political Affairs, and how the economic powerhouses are trying to stamp a mark on the archipelagic nation’s political future in the Indian Ocean.

Senior Research Associate, IDSA, Ms Ruchita Beri presented a paper on ‘Asia-Africa Growth Corridor: A new framework for cooperation’ at the International Conference on ‘India and Africa: An Afro Asian perspective’, organised by the Academy of International Studies (AIS), Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, on February 15-16, 2018.

Research Fellow, IDSA, Dr Nihar Nayak’s article on Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia’s conviction, titled ‘Khaleda Zia’s Conviction Will Only Add to Bangladesh’s Internal Political Chaos’ was published in ‘The Wire’ on February 16, 2018. The article analyses how the verdict may push the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party into further crisis, clearing the way for the Awami League to form government in Dhaka again.

Distinguished Fellow, IDSA, Brig Gurmeet Kanwal’s article on US-Pak ties, titled ‘For Lies and deceit’ was published in the February 2018 issue of Defence and Security Alert. Brig Kanwal, in the article, argues that USA’s continuous support to Pakistan Army emboldens it to interfere in decision-making well outside its domain, undermines civilian control over the military and, consequently, weakens Pakistan’s fledgling democracy.

Associate Fellow, IDSA, Dr Prashant Kumar Singh presented a paper titled ‘Xi Jinping's New China: A Challenge for India’ at the National Conference on India-China Relations: Exploring the Evolving Strategic Dimensions on February 15-16, 2018. The conference was organised by the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies (DDSS), Yashwantrao Chavan National Centre of International Security and Defence Analysis (YCNISDA), Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, and the Institute for Chinese Studies (ICS), New Delhi.

The New York Times quoted Associate Fellow, IDSA, presently on deputation as Visiting Professor to ICCR chair of Indian Studies at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Dr Anand Kumar’s views on India’s stand on the Maldives crisis, in an article titled ‘Maldives Crisis Could Stir Trouble Between China and India’. The article, published on February 14, 2018, examines how the Maldivian turmoil can provoke a larger crisis between China and India, which have long competed for influence in the Indian Ocean region.

Associate Fellow, IDSA, presently on deputation as Visiting Professor to ICCR chair of Indian Studies at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Dr Anand Kumar’s article on Political turmoil in Maldives, titled ‘Yameen won't go’ was published in the Deccan Herald on February 13, 2018. The article discusses Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen’s ploy to cling on to power with the help of the military.

Distinguished Fellow, IDSA, Brig Gurmeet Kanwal’s article on strategy to deal with Pakistan, titled ‘Four-pronged Strategy is Necessary to Checkmate Pak’s Deep State’ was published in The Economic Times on February 12, 2018.

Associate Fellow, IDSA, Dr Md Muddassir Quamar’s commentary on PM Modi’s Palestine visit, titled ‘Prime Minister’s Historic Visit to Palestine’ was published by the Air World Service, an external services division of All India Radio on February 12, 2018.

Associate Fellow, IDSA Dr Anand Kumar’s article on the shift in India-Maldives relations, titled ‘Flashpoint Maldives: India losing another neighbour to China’ was published in National Herald on February 11, 2018.

Associate Fellow, IDSA, Dr Md Muddassir Quamar’s article on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Palestine, titled ‘PM Modi in Palestine: India Dealing With Israel and Palestine Without Third Party Complications’ was published in News18.com on February 10, 2018.

Research Assistant, IDSA, Ms Chithra Purushothaman’s article on the United States’ decision to cut security aid to Pakistan, titled ‘US Cuts Security Aid to Pakistan: What Does It Mean?’ was published in IPR Review on February 8, 2018.

Research Assistant, IDSA, Ms Lakshmi Priya’s review of the book ‘The Decline of Nation-states after the Arab Spring: The Rise of Communitocracy’, by Imad Salamey, was published in Vol 5, Issue 1, 2018, of the SAGE publication journal ‘Contemporary Review of the Middle East.